Vending-machine.



P. & R. FERGUSSON.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILED 00122, 1912.

1, 1 1 5,421 Patented out. 2?, 19m lg. 7 gums-sum 1. 7' Z 0 a I I g" P. & R. FERGUSSON.

VENDING MACHINE. APPLIUATION FILED 00122, 1912.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

P. & R. FERGUSSON.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOK FILED 001222, 1912.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

:BiZFszyNan 1. 61: R. PBRGUSSON.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00. 22, 1912.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4.

P. & R. PERGUSSON.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 22, 1912.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 Indem- P. & R. FE RGUSSON.

VENDING MAOHIN'EJ APPLICATION FILED 001 .22, 1912.

I Patented 0013. 27, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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j UN OFFICE.

r1111. rnnousson 'nmlnonnnr rnnousson, or DAVENPORT, IOWA.-

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification Letters Patent. Patented Oct 2'? 1914 Application filed October 22, 1912. Serial It' 727,270.

To (1N whom.- it may concern 110 it known that we, PHIL FERGUSSON and ROBERT FnRoUssoN, citizens of the l'nited States, residing at Daven ort; in the county of Scott and State of owa, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Vending-Machines, of which the 't'rllowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in vending machines.

The primary object of'the invention is to provide a check-controlled mechanism for vending various articles such as handkerchiefs, confections, and matches.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanismin which the check forms the connecting link between a manu-' ally operated member and the article eject-- ing mechanism, the ejecting mechanism while operating on the same principle in handling the various classes of goods to be vended being modified to compensate for variations in the contour and dimensions of the articles vended.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for producing a full stroke of the operating lever.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide a check handling mechanism which is an operative part of the ejector IOChtlIllSm and which will maintain the check in operative position during the stroke of the ejector.

A still further object of the invention is in provide means acting upon the ejector while at thelimit of its delivery stroke to release the check.

Another object of the invention is to provide a delivery mechanism for packages which will prevent the delivery of the package prior to the ejector completing its full stroke, thereby preventing more than one article to be vended upon the insertion of one check.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide acheck receiver at the entrance of the check chute in which the check may be placed and delivered to the check chute.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article receiving tray which will be normally locked against movement and which may be moved with respect to the casing of the machine to permit the removal of the checks deposited therein.

A further object of the invention is to displacement if the check has been inserted at a time when the ejecting mechanism is either on its active stroke or returning to assume a positlon beneath the supplementary or secondary check chute.

s In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the co n lete machine; Fig. 2 is a front elevation; ig. 3 is a vertical section; Fig. l is a section. on the line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the ejectors which is used in the ejecting of the smaller goods; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a detail view of the ejector which is used in the ejection of larger goods; Fig. 8 is a section taken on theline 88 of Fig. 4.; Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is an enlarged section taken on the-line l010 of Fig. 8;'Fig. 11 is an enlarged section taken on the line l1-11 of Fig. 4, illustrating the full stroke mechanism; Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line 12-42 of Fig. 4 illustrating the mechanism supported by the actuating lever which coacts with the full stroke mechanism; F ig." 13 is a section taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 8; Fig. 14 is a section taken on the line 1414 of Fig. 13. I

In the drawings the mechanism has been illustrated as supported within the usual form of vending machine casing, and attention is called to the fact that any suitable casing may be employed which will support the mechanism.

In the drawings 10 designates a casing which is formed with the vertically extending ortion 11 and the base portion 12, the" goo s compartments being housed by the portion 11. The goods ejecting mechanism is supported within the lower base portion 12, the base portion also receiving the checks which are deposited.

The invention broadly contemplates the provision of a vending apparatus which will eflect the delivery of goods which may vary materially in contour and dimensions. For instance, certain of the compartments are adapted toreceive flat packages which may contain handkerchiefs, writing paper, or other merchandise which it is desired to supply in substantially square or rectangular packages. The other compartments receive such packages as gum or matches, and while the ejecting mechanism for both sets of compartments is practically the same in operation, there are certain differences in the two mechanisms to compensate for the differences in the contour and size of the articles vended. The upper section 11 of the casing supports a plurality of goods containers, the goods containers 13, which are arranged adjacent the sides of the easing, being larger than the goods containers 14, which are two in number and disposed between the containers 13.

While but four good containers are illustrated and while they are preferably located as shown, it will be noted that any number of coi'itainers may be supported within the casing consistent with the dimensions of the casing and that their relative positions may be interchanged as is found convenient in constructing the machine.

The goods containers consist of vertical chutes, preferably rectangular in cross section, in which the articles to be 'vended are positioned in superposed relation. One face of each chute is provided with an opening 15 through which the articles are placed within the chute, the casing being provided with a door 16 which is formed with a glass panel 17 through which the goods may be viewed, the door being locked to the upper beading 18 of the casing.

The lowermost article of each stack of articles rests upon guides between which the ejectors travel. As the construction of the ejector mechanism for the containers 13 differs somewhat from that of the containers 14, the smaller containers 14 will be first described in detail. In this construction a plurality of guides 19 are provided, the guides being spaced from the lower terminal of the container 13 a distance greater than the height of one of the articles 20 which are arranged within the container 13. Thus the ejector mechanism, which will be hereinafter described, may remove the lowermost article of the stack without disarranging or in any way affecting the remaining articles.

The ejector mechanisms for all of the article containers are mounted upon a shaft 21 which extends longitudinally of the easing and which is supported Within bearings 22 carried by the side Walls of the casing. The ejector for the compartments 14 is illustrated in detail in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This ejector consists of a bar or arm 23 the lower terminal of which is enlarged at 24 and formed with a bore 25 which receives the shaft 21. This bar is reduced in width as at 26, the bar tapering toward its upper end, and being formed at said upper end with the enlargement 27 the edge portion 28 of which is beveled. The frame 29 embraces the upper portions of said bar, the

extensions 30 of said frame being secured to the bar, the intermediate portion 31 of the frame being spaced from the bar. A fiat spring 32 is secured to the bar and is bent at the point 33, its leaf 34 being disposed at an angle with respect to the bar and its terminal 3:) being disposed inter.- mediate the portion 31 of the frame 29 and the bar. The frame 29 and the spring 34 form a check receiving pocket, it being noted that the space between the frame 29 and the bar 28'may be increased or diminished consistent with the thickness of the check which it is desired should operate the mechanism.

The guides 19 support the vertically extending supporting plates 36. A spring 37 is supported by each of said plates, said spring being bowed at 38, its upper portion 39 being provided with projections 40 and 41, the projection 41 extending through the conical opening 42 in the supporting plate 36. The check chute 43 is supported by the guides, said chute being disposed at an angle to direct the checks within the frame 29 of the ejector. The chute is provided with an opening 44 through which the projection 40 extends, contacting with the check to prevent its falling should the ejector be out of alinement with the chute 43. Thus if the ejector is on its active stroke or returning after the completion of its active stroke and a check is inserted within the check chute 45, the construction of which will be hereinafter described, the check will not fall Within the receptacle but will be maintained within the chute 43 until the ejector assumes a position to receive the new check and again begin its active stroke. The check is received by the supplementary or secondary check chute 43, being free to pass through said chute as the enlarged terminal of the ejector is in contact with the projection 41 of the spring 37, attention being called to the fact that the surface 28 of the ejector is beveled at the point where it contacts with the projection 41. The check then descends within the frame 29, its edge resting upon the upper terminal 35 of the spring 32. With the check in this position the shaft 21 is rocked in its bearings by means of the lever 49. This lever supports a mechanism which will be hereinafter described and which coacts with means supported by the frame of the casing to assure a full stroke. The lever is forced downward, rocking the shaft 21 and causing the ejector bar 23 to travel between the guides 19 carrying with it the check 50 which projects beyond the frame 30 and the end of the ejector bar, the check during the travel of the lever wiping the lowermost article of the stack from beneath the stack and carrying it toward the inclined delivery plate 51. The article 20 falls 'upon said plate and descends to the delivery tray 52 the base of which is curved and projects I through the opening 53 in the inwardly curved portion 54 of the casing. When the check has performed its ejecting function and the ejector has traveled to a point past the front wall ofthe article container, or at least to a point where the article has been. ejectedon the 'inclined plate 51, a stop 55 which is secured ,to-the depending plate 36 contacts with the leaf 34 of the spring 32 and forces the same toward the ejector bar.

The upper edge on which the check has.

rested uring the wiping stroke is then forced in contact withthe bar, allowing the check to fall through the frame on the bottom tray 56 of the casing. The handle upon being released is'returned to its normal position, one terminal of a coil spring 57 being connected to the curved ofiset 58 of the bearing which is formed integral with the lever and through which the shaft 21 extends, the other terminal of said coil spring being connected to the casing. As soon as the lever is moved toa point where the spring is out. of contact with the stop 55 the lever 34 of the spring 32 will assume its normal position intermediate the portion 31 of the frame and the bar 23. The returning of the ejector forces the projection carried by the spring 37 out of the path of the checks throu h the chute 43. It will be noted that 4 if ac eck should have been deposited during the stroke of the ejector the check will then be allowed to descend within the check seat ofthe ejector. Attention is called to the fact that this check retaining means is of a construction which depends for its effectual' .operation upon the construction .and position of the end portion offth'e ejector arm. p

The ejector mechanism heretofore described is common to each of the small article containers and is of a construction which will properly eject one article from these containers upon the depositing of the proper check or-coin.

The'article ejecting mechanism for the larger compartments 13, which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 9 of the drawings, operates on the same principle as the ejector mech- -anism heretofore described, there being certain changes to compensate for the larger sized articles. The ejector used in connection with this mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawing and consists of the bar 59, the lower portlon 60 of which is en larged and provided with a bore to receive the shaft 21. This ejector bar differs only from .the bar shown in Fig. 5 at its upper terminal, the bar being bifurcated, each of thebifurcations 61 being formed with a fin or projection 62 which extends at right angles to the upper enlarged portion 63 of the bar, the slotting of the bar to bifurcate the same continued below the point 64 to form the reduced slot 65 and the shoulders 66. In, this form the articles 67 ,rest-Inpon guides 68 which perform the same function as theguides 19. The ejector consists of-,a sliding plate 69 which is provided ,with'the article engaging-projection 70, the rdjection 70 being pivotally supported the sliding ejector and being resiliently,main-v tained in vertical position. The lower terminal 71 of the member 70 is so pivoted on the active or ejecting stroke of the sliding member, the member 7 0 will be main:

ticle of the stack, the member swinging on its pivot against the tension of a spring 7 2, and feathering on its return stroke so as not to disturb the article which has assumed the position occupied by the ejected article.- The sliding member 69 is provided with the downwardly extending ears or lugs 73 which support a pin 74. A latch member 75v is pivotally supported on this pin. This latch member is provided with arms 76 and 77 which project at right angles from its body portion 78, the body portion terminating in the projection 79 which rides between the bifurcations 61 of the ejector. bar 59. The projection 79 of the latch is disposed to project within the bifurcated portion of the ejector, the ejector assuming a position under the supplementary check chute 80, the projection 79 of the latch cooperating with the ejector to form a check seat. The check is delivered from the chute 80 to the seat thus formed and when the ejector is moved the check will engage the latch, bringing the ejector and sliding member 69 in locked relation and causing the sliding member to travel on its ejectingstroke when the lever i9 is operated to rock the shaft 21. As the ejector 59 reaches a point where-the lowermost article which has been engaged by the projection 70 has been deposited upon the inclined plate 51, the latch 75 which is nor mally maintained in contact with the ejector by the spring 75 will contact with the vertically extending plate 81, the plate contacting with the extension 77 of the latch, moving the same against thetension of the spring 7 5 and allowing the check to be deposited. check does not actually contact with the tained vertical to eject the lowermost ararticle to be delivered it forms the means for locking the ejector to the article pusher. The sliding member 69 is provided with a plate 82 which travels beneath the article tobe vended and prevents its falling on the inclined plate 51 until the ejector mechanism has completed its active stroke, thereby preventing the article from dropping or being removed until the ejector has made a full stroke and at the sametime preventing the articles from being removed from the -container or the delivery of. more than one article for a single check. The sliding memher 69 is returned to its normal position by the coil sprin 83 one terminal of which is connected to t e plate 84, its other terminal being connected to the base of the casing.v

i being noted that after the e ector has movedthe sliding member to its ejecting position the spring will actuate the tapes causing the sliding member to assume its normal posi- 4 tion.

The supplementary or secondary chute is provided-with means for preventing the passage of a check therefrom in the event that the ejector is not in its position to receive the check. This mechanism-consists of a spring 89 the offset terminal 90 of which is secured to the rear face of the chute. The lower terminal 91 of this spring contacts with the upper portion of its ejector bar, the bar when in its normal position holding the projection 92 which is formed integral with the spring out of the ath of the check which descends through t e chute. When the ejector is on its active stroke the projection 92 will assume a position beneath the chute 80 preventing a check which has been deposited fromv passing through the chute. Thus it will be seen that it will be impossible for a check to pass through the chute to the base of the casing in the event that the same is inserted when the ejectoi mechanism is participating in its active stroke or is on its return stroke.

The check chutes extend to a point adjacent the check openings 46, the central chutes'connecting with the ejector mechanism of the containers 14, the chutes disposed on each side of the central pair of chutes connecting with the ejector mechanism of the containers 13. A plate 93 is supported interiorly of the casing adjacent the end of the check openings 46, said plate being formed with the depending portion 94.-'tl1e flared portion 95 of the check chute being. disposed adjacent the depending portion94. A check receiving tray 96 is pivctally, supported at 97 said tray being formed with an up-turned edge 98 the tray being manipulated by the handle 99. The bottom wall of the chute is bifurcated, the tray 96 extending between the bifurcations of said wall; The check is deposited on the tray and the handle member 99 tilted until the upstanding portion 98 of the tray is below the level 0 the wall 100 of the chute, the check in this manner being deposited within the chute. This construction is illustrated inFigs. 13 and 14. It will be noted that the check may thus be properly presented to the check chute.

There is a tray 52 for each of the containers, the trays being supported by the curved door 101 of the casing which is hinged at the point 102. This door is provided with a, lock 103, the door being opened to remove the checks which are deposited on the base plate 56 of the casing.

The lever 49 is provided on one of its sides with a detent 104 having the form of an arm pivoted between the apcrtured lugs 105, the arm being bent at the point 106, the wall of the slot 107 formed in the arm being disposed at an angle to conform to the angle at which the arm is bent. The terminal of said arm is offset and extends through the opening 107 in the lever. The arm 1s normally maintained with its terminal extending through said opening by means of the spring 108 which is secured to the arm, its

terminal 109 cont-acting with the end portion of the arm.

A plurality of curved bars 110 and 111, are arranged within the rounded portion 12 of the casing. These bars are disposed one on each side of the lever 49. The offset terminal of the arm extends within thepath of teeth 112 carried by the bar 110, the teeth being disposed to engage the end portion of the arm 104 when the lever is pulled forward. The arm 110 is provided with the projection 113' which is formed with the inclined face 113, the highest point 114 of 5 which extends beyond the teeth 112. When the lever has traveled forward until its terminal 106 asses the lowermost tooth, said terminal W111 contact with the inclined face 113 to move the arm 104 against the tension 100 of the spring 108. When the arm is moved against the tension of said spring, its terminal 115 will be brought in the path of the dog 116 which is pivotally and vertically supported within the opening 117 of the 5 lever being normally maintained in a position to receive the terminal 115 of the arm 104 by the spring 118. After the arm has traveled to a point where the same has been actuated by the incline 113, it will have com- 10 pleted its full stroke, and as the terminal of the arm is maintained" out of contact with the teeth by reason of the dog 116 engaging the terminal 115 of the arm, the lever may be returned to its normal position by the 1 5 8 action of the resetting spring which operates the shaft 21.

It will be noted that the arm 104 with its angular termination constitutes a detent engaging with the teeth 112 and that n'ieans' 120 are provided for shifting the end of the detent out of said teeth 112 upon the end of its stroke and that the latch 116 constitutes means for holding the detent out of the plane of the teeth 112 until the lever has returned to its normal position, whereupon the memher 119 releases this latch 116 and permits the projection of the detent into the plane of the teeth 112 by the spring 108. When the lever has traveled to its normal position 1 the arm will be again set to engage the teeth 112 by a projection 119 disposed in the path of the portion 120 of the dog 116 which extends through the arm. It will be noted by this construction that a full stroke of the actuating lever is assured.

NVhat we claim is 1. A vending machine including a goods container, a sliding carriage, a pivoted ar ticle engaging member supported by said carriage, a plate forming a part of the carriage and disposed to travel in advance of the article engaging member, said plate being interposed between the goods container and the opening through which the goods are delivered while the ejector mechanism is on its active stroke.

2. A vending inachine including a goods container, an ejection mechanism, resilient means for resetting said mechanism, an actuating lever therefor an arm supported by said lever, guides disposed on both sides of the lever, teeth formed on one of said guides, an arm carried by the lever and disposed to engage said teeth when the lever is on its active stroke, the toothed guide being formed with an inclined surface the highest point of which extends beyond the teeth, the arm contacting with said inclined surface and being thereby released from contact with the teeth when the lever is at the limit of its active stroke.

A vending machine including a goods container, an ejection mechanism, resilient means for resetting said mechanism, a lever for actuating said mechanism, guides disposed on both sides of the lever, teeth formed on one of said guides, an arm resiliently supported on the lever and disposed to engage said teeth when the lever is on itsactive stroke, the toothed guide being formed with an inclined surface the highest point of which extends beyond the teeth, the arm contacting with said inclined surface and thereby released from contact with the teeth when the lever is at "the limit of its active stroke.

4. A vending machine including a goods container, an ejectionmechanism, resilientmeans for resetting said mechanism, a lever for actuating said mechanism, curved guides disposed on both sides of the lever, teeth formed on one of said guides, an arm resiliently carried on the lever and disposed to engage sa-id teeth when the lever is on its active stroke, the toothed guide being formed with an inclined surface the highest point of which extends beyond the .teeth, the arm contacting with said inclined surface and thereby released from contact with the teeth when the lever is at the limit of its active stroke.

A vending machine including a goods container, an ejection mechanism, resilient means for resetting said mechanism, an actuating lever therefor, an arm pivotally supported by said lever, said arm being formed with an olfset terminal disposed to project through an opening in the lever, curved guides arranged on both sides of the lever, one of said guides being formed with teeth with which the projection of the arm contacts when the lever is on its active stroke, resilient means normally maintaining the urojection in contact with said teeth, the toot ied guide being formed with an inclined surface with which the projection contacts, a dog receiving the terminal of said arm remote from the projection when the same is in contact with said inclined surface thereby allowing the lever to be reset without the projection contacting with the teeth, and means contacting with said dog when the lever has assumed its normal position, said means moving the dog to release the arm and reset the offset terminal of said arm for engagement with the toothed guide when thclever again participates in its active stroke.

6. A vending machine including a goods container, an ejecting mechanism, resilient means for resetting said mechanism, a lever for actuating said mechanism, curved guides disposed on both sides of said lever, a pivoted member carried by the lever and disposed to engage teeth supported by one of the guides, means for moving said member out of contact with the teeth when the lever is at the limit of its active stroke, means for maintaining said member out of contact with said .teeth until the lever has assumed its normal position, and means for resetting said member when the lever has assumed its normal position.

7. A vending machine including an article container, an article ejecting mechanism including an actuating lever, a guide extending parallel to the path of movement of the lever, means mounted on the lever and operatively engaging the guide on an ejecting stroke of the lever and preventing a return of the lever to its initial position until it has completed a full stroke along said guide, means at the end of the guide for retracting said guide-engaging means, and means at the opposite end of the guide for resetting the guide-engaging means into position to engage said guide upon the next stroke of the lever.

8. A vending machine including an article container, an article ejecting mechanism including an actuating lever, a guide extending parallel to the path of the actuating lever and having teeth, a resiliently actuated detent mounted on the lever and engaging said teeth upon the ejecting stroke of the lever, means at one end of the guide for forcing the detent out of the plane of said teeth to ermit a free return of the lever to its initial position, a latch holding the deactuating lever, e]ect1ng mechan1sm tent in'its retracted position, upon the return of the lever, and means at the opposite end of the uide operatively engaging said latch and re easing the detent to erlnit its projection into the plane of sai teeth.

9. A vending machine including an article container, an ejecting mechanism including means for retracting sai to its initial position, a detent having the form of an arm pivoted upon said lever, a spring following-the detent outward, a guide disposed parallel to the path of movement of t e lever and having ratchet teeth engageable by the detent when in its projected osition, a latch engageable with said detent to hold it retracted, means at one extremity of the guide for retracting the detent and causing its engagement by the latch, and means at the opposite end of the guide for forcing the latch out of engagement with the detent and permitting the projection of the detent.

In testimony whereof we aifix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

PHIL FERGUSSON. [1..s.]

ROBERT 'FERGUSSON. L. 8.]

Witnesses:

C. L. B. TYLEE,

J. G. HALL. 

